The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the career pathways and experience of male and female superintendents employed in Illinois. In order to achieve this overall objective, the researcher examined gender differences in the career pathways of Illinois superintendents as well as gender differences in the perceptions of…

Young people's decision-making about postschool pathways are influenced and shaped by parents, teachers, and other familiars. Yet, these familiars are often uninformed about vocational education as it has not been part of their personal experience. Instead, they may reflect and further embed the relatively low standing of that option. The lack of…

As smartphones are emerging as a common device for adolescent, prior studies have provided theoretical and empirical evidence for the factors affecting adolescent smartphone use. However, mainstream research has tended to focus on the negative effects of smartphone. Even though smartphone use can have adverse outcomes, it may also allow students…

Although women dominate the field of education as teachers, there remains a distinct lack of representation of women in school leadership, particularly in the role of secondary school principalships (Taie & Goldring, 2019). Prior research related to this phenomenon has centered on the barriers to entry, both external and internal, that inhibit…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the understanding of possible reasons for a large gender gap in the number of men and women serving as PK-12 public school district superintendents in Iowa in 2022-2023. This study provided information on the career path experiences of female superintendents compared to male superintendents…

Following Bourdieu's classic work on habitus and field, scholars use habitus fit/misfit to distinguish students' college experience but how students' experiences habitus misfit and transformation in relation to their career preparation process remains understudied. This study conducted longitudinal in-depth interviews with 32 students at an elite…

Guided pathways is a nationwide whole-college reform that aims to improve college completion rates and times for students, especially in the community college sector. This multisite case study sought to explore how pathways institutions supported students to better align with the right academic and career programs. Through individual…

This descriptive/transcendental phenomenological design aimed to understand how working college graduates perceived their college experience, their transition from school to work for workforce integration, and their career alignment to gainful employment. The intended sample was ten working college graduates with bachelor's degrees. However, due…

Through a basic qualitative approach this study examined the leadership styles of superintendents to determine if the styles of leadership have a positive, negative or no impact on student achievement. The perceptions and practices of the leadership styles of traditional pathway and alternative (non-traditional) pathway of superintendents is also…

College costs and persistent workforce shortages have prompted educators, policymakers, and employers to shift the conversation on the transition from school from a narrow "college for all" emphasis to a broader "postsecondary education" and "career pathways" perspective. This paper describes an innovative effort to…

The St Martin's Group commissioned Learning and Work Institute to explore the barriers apprenticeship employers face, what employers can do to help apprentices complete their programmes, and ultimately how 'best outcomes' of apprenticeships are defined by different parties across the system. More than 800 apprenticeship employers were surveyed to…

Much of the scholarship on employment and career pathways of PhD graduates has examined the issues, including pre-doctoral experiences, quality of doctoral education, networking and career choices across different sectors; however, contextual environmental factors have been generally overlooked. This study aims to explore the academic career…

A school leader representation gap exists in the nation's public schools. There is an underrepresentation of public-school leaders of color, which results in inequity of cultural values and diverse leadership perspectives that impact recruitment, retention, and student success. Only 22% of school leaders identify as people of color, while 53% of…

The purpose of this case is to illuminate the nuances of one of the most important roles on a school campus--the role of the assistant principal; with a focus on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) women assistant principals. This case is for educational leaders interested in understanding the power dynamics between an assistant principal…

Given the worldwide shortfall of engineers that threatens innovation and global stewardship, educators and industry must find ways to engage and prepare the next generation of engineers. To attract and train candidates to fill global needs, researchers need to expand engineering career pathway perceptions for students of all ages. Engineering…